Review of best recorder mic – Zoom H1

God    Gadgets     Canon T2i, DSLR, mic, mp3, voice recorder, Zoom h1, Zoom h2, Zoom H4N

With all the advances in technology and gadget there is still a need to record voice conversations and memos. While you might be able to use your Iphone or Blackberry, if you are in need recording for a long period of time or often, it’s best to get a dedicated mic.

The Zoom H1 is the best suited for this. The mic is small, high quality, and intuitively easy to use.

Great features I love:

1. Dual mics pointed in each direction for stereo recording
2. Easy big and bold record button
3. Rec light indicating when it’s on
4. Display but no menu option – The higher models H2 and H4N has menus which makes it more difficult to use
5. Easy side buttons for increasing the input level, play, fast forward, rewind, pause and delete
6. Speaker for playback
7. Volume for speakers
8. Output for headphone
9. input for other mic or lapel mic
10. USB connection to sync with your computer

You can choose WAV or MP3, MP3 it will last you 36 hours with the 2 GB card. I used this and it is great. I would choose this over the any of the higher models, H2 and H4N. Without a menu, this is so much easier to use and navigate. Also the small size makes it very easy to transport. I use this with my DSLR Canon Rebel T2I. I shoot from afar and use this to record the audio, so much easier.

You can also get the kit which comes with a great set of headphones (good quality but not the most expensive), windsock, mic holder, carrying bag, usb, charger, and high quality tripod.

Check out this great review, I viewed this before buying:

Pros and Cons of Ereaders – Review of the Kobo Ereader

God    Gadgets     Calibre, chapters, ebook, ebook managament, epub, ereader, gadgets, kobo, pdf

To be successful you have to constantly upgrade yourself. I read a lot of books and with all the hype I figure I’ll get an ereader. I didn’t need anything special I just wanted to read, so I got the bare minimal one, the Kobo ereader from Chapters. Since I’ve bought it I haven’t really used it much, still finishing my paper books. Here are the pros and cons of the Kobo reader:

Cons:

1. With the decades of reading on paper my mind can still read a lot faster from a paper page than from the ereader. One reason is because of the lower contrast from the black text to the grey background compare to black text on white paper.
2. Turning pages on the Kobo is slow so there is time wasted between pages and lost of continuity. My friend told me that it’s faster on other ereader such as his Sony ereader.
3. Hard to reference certain pages to go back and forth.
4. Long time to start up, takes about 30 seconds to start up and find your book and start that up.
5. I don’t have all the books I want on the ereader.
6. You can use Calibre to convert your pdfs to epub for the reader but certain pdfs still don’t show up good on the reader such as the manual for my Canon DSLR camera.
7. Images are hard to see.

Pros:

1. It’s easier to carry than books. You can fit so much more in it a book. Great for minimal packing.
2. Easy to handle and able to handle with one hand. I bring this on the subway and it’s easy to hold with one hand and don’t need to turn pages.
3. Holds more books. This is helpful when you are traveling and is not sure what to bring with you.
4. You can convert and load PDFs using Calibre ebook management software (free). Very easy to use.
5. Save money on buying ebook rather than the physical ones. Personally I like to still purchase real books because some of the cons listed above.

If you travel a lot and read books on the subway or bus than an ebook reader is right for you. For all the other occasions I would stick with good old paper.